The Lilongwe Magistrate Court on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 granted bail to Nyasa Big Bullets supporter Beleti Severe, popularly known as Billy 1, who is being accused of beating up Principal Secretary for Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Sam Madula at Bingu National Stadium during the Luso TV Bus Ipite final leg involving Be Forward Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets on Monday, January 2, 2017.

Severe (in white shirt) greeted by his brother at court

Severe allegedly beat up the PS, injuring him on the upper left eye after the senior government official had tried to prevent him and other Bullets followers from entering the VIP section without tickets.

He was arrested by police and spent two nights in custody at Lilongwe Police Stadium before being taken to court, where he was charged with a case of assault occasioning bodily harm.

Private practising lawyer Shadreck Mhango represented the Blantyre based fan, who pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He was granted bail by the court after paying a K10,000 cash bail bond and a K200,000 non-cash bond, whose surety was Bullets second vice chairman Austin Kasito.

In granting bail, the court asked the suspect to report to any nearest police station Wednesday every fortnight.

Hearing of the case is expected to commence on January 27, 2017, when the state is expected to parade four witnesses.

Meanwhile, secretary of Bullets’ board of trustees Jim Kalua has said the club will met out a punishment on Severe, having received a report from the supporters committee.

“We have now received a report from the supporters committee, which has implicated him and we are going to met out a stiff punishment on him. As a club, we do not condone violence and whatever he did, he did in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the team,” said Kalua.